Point of sale modular processor system

Abstract

A system and method are described for a point of sale (POS) processor system comprising a computing device, a power supply unit, and a USB hub that includes multiple USB ports that conform to the PoweredUSB standard. The power supply unit is coupled to the USB hub and includes an internal or external power supply to distribute power to the poweredUSB ports and the computing device. The USB hub includes multiple poweredUSB ports that are configured to deliver power and data connectivity to peripheral devices. The USB hub provides a connection to facilitate the transfer of data between the computing device coupled to and powered by the USB hub and any peripheral devices connected to the poweredUSB ports.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A point of sale processor system comprising:
 a computing device comprising a processing unit and a first power interface, the first power interface coupled to the processing unit to receive power from a power supply unit;   the power supply unit coupled to the USB hub to supply power to the USB hub and computing device;   the USB hub comprising: a distribution unit comprising multiple poweredUSB connections operating at individual voltage levels, a second power interface coupled to the power supply unit to provide power to the distribution unit and the computing device;   wherein the USB hub is configured to:   receive, from the computing device, data associated with a particular peripheral device that is connected to the USB hub through a particular poweredUSB connection of the multiple poweredUSB connections;   transmit the data to the particular peripheral device through the particular poweredUSB connection of the multiple poweredUSB connections.   
     
     
         2 . The point of sale processor system of  claim 1 , wherein the USB hub interfaces with the computing device using: an internal connector for power and USB, or a first external cable for USB and a second external cable for power. 
     
     
         3 . The point of sale processor system of  claim 1 , wherein the distribution unit distributes power to each of the multiple poweredUSB connections at 5V, 12V, or 24V. 
     
     
         4 . The point of sale processor system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the multiple poweredUSB connections are hot pluggable. 
     
     
         5 . The point of sale processor system of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device is not detachable from the USB hub. 
     
     
         6 . The point of sale processor system of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device is detachable from the USB hub. 
     
     
         7 . The point of sale processor system of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device is detachable from the USB hub and is configured to be exchanged with a new computing device with different processor hardware as an upgrade path without modifying one or more peripheral devices that are connected to the USB hub through one or more of the multiple poweredUSB connections. 
     
     
         8 . The point of sale processor system of  claim 1 , wherein the USB hub is further configured to determine that an electro-static discharge condition is satisfied and in response, disconnect power and data flow from one of the multiple poweredUSB connections. 
     
     
         9 . The point of sale processor system of  claim 1 , wherein the USB hub is further configured to determine that an over voltage condition is satisfied and in response, disconnect power and data flow from one of the multiple poweredUSB connections. 
     
     
         10 . The point of sale processor system of  claim 1 , wherein the USB hub is further configured to determine that a short circuit condition is satisfied and in response, disconnect power and data flow from one of the multiple poweredUSB connections. 
     
     
         11 . The point of sale processor system of  claim 1 , wherein the USB hub is further configured to determine that an overcurrent condition is satisfied and in response, disconnect power and data flow from one of the multiple poweredUSB connections. 
     
     
         12 . The point of sale processor system of  claim 1 , wherein the USB hub is further configured to determine that an under voltage condition is satisfied and in response, disconnect power and data flow from one of the multiple poweredUSB connections. 
     
     
         13 . The point of sale processor system of  claim 1 , wherein the USB hub is configured to determine that the computing device has gone into sleep mode or standby mode and in response, disconnect power from the multiple poweredUSB peripheral connections. 
     
     
         14 . The point of sale processor system of  claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism to secure the computing device to the USB hub.